Bowen Island Undercurrent November 4 2021

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WATERING IN A DROUGHT: Garden Club talks water collection PAGE 3

Thursday, November 4, 2021 • A1

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THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 4 , 2021

HOW TREES TALK: And what

VOL. 47 NO. 43

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that has to do with mushrooms PAGE 5

A store’s legacy

CONNIE WRIGHT IS SELLING HER STORE BUT NOT GOING FAR

BRONWYN BEAIRSTO

Editor@bowenislandundercurrent.com

exposing how the war years continue to shape the present for Bowen Islanders.

One of the highlights of the exhibit honours the ongoing work and support of the Bowen Island Legion branch #150 with Canada’s Veterans and local community with archival images from past Cenotaph ceremonies for reflection. Ordinary lives were touched on the frontlines and the Legion has played a pivotal role in keeping history alive.

After 41 years in the biz, Connie Wright could use a break. So, come Dec. 24, she’s giving up her Trunk Road storefront staple – Connie Wright Original Knits Boutique – and handing off her legacy to a dear neighbour.

The long-time islander did her first craft fair in 1980, right here on Bowen, and continued doing them for decades. But Connie grew tired of the endless set-ups and take-downs and most of the fairs were in town.

The Union Steamship Company Marina-owned cottage came up for rent 12 and a half years ago. “This is the best location, it really is,” says Connie. “And I love this old building. It’s an old Union Steamship building.”

Connie’s love of the historic USSC buildings runs deep: she’s lived in USSC two cottages in Davies Orchard and one in Deep Bay. Now, after 41 years, Connie’s ready for a break.

“When you’re in retail, you really work seven days a week,” she says. She also makes all of the beaded jewellery and knits in her store. “So when I’m not here, I’m home making things or I’m ordering, or I’m doing bookkeeping. Having a store is a 24/7 thing.”

What’s kept Connie going? “New experiences, learning a ton, of fantastic customers,” she says. “I’m really blessed with having so many repeat people. And a lot of my customers have morphed into friends.”

A wall separates Connie from Squirrel next door – Squirrel is both the name of the boutique shop selling socially-responsible clothes, jewelry, gifts and homeware and the nickname of proprietor Caro Johnson.

Caro started Squirrel about four years ago. She was new to retail – she had been working for Carol Petersen at Nature Encounters and when Petersen decided to sell the business, she encouraged Caro to buy it.

CONTINUED ON P. 11

CONTINUED ON P. 7

KEITH PATTERSON PHOTO

WITCHING WAVES: Those with a keen eye on the western sky last Saturday evening may have spotted some

seasonally celebratory figures. See more Halloween-y photos on p. 8.

‘Bowen Remembers’exhibit on at the museum KATHRYN GAITENS

B.I. Museum and Archives

The 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month marks the date and time when armies stopped fighting in the First World War. At this time each year, The Bowen Island Legion, branch #150, brings the community together to gather by the Cenotaph to honour, reflect and remember; whether in-person or

as last year for the first time, virtually.

Under installation and on view at the Bowen Island Museum & Archives is the exhibit “Bowen Remembers,” which explores and draws inspiration from the community exhibiting how it’s been touched by the war years. This installation honours those whose lives have been influenced by war, whether they served on the frontlines or were at home. Archival documents and artifacts give us a view into the past,

Join us for a Joseph Ribkoff Trunk Show Friday Nov 12 and Saturday Nov 13 11am-5pm Book an appointment at 604-802-1468 or just drop in.

You can try things on, get some fashion tips and have some fun!

Hope to see you at the show!

- Maryam Check us out on Facebook for a live show at 6pm Thursday November 11th @ https://www.facebook.com/outofthebluebowen.ca

A2 • Thursday, November 4, 2021

bowenislandundercurrent.com

Notice of Intention to Dispose of Land

Events November 5, 2021 9:30 am Housing Advisory Committee Meeting

November 8, 2021 4:00 pm Committee of the Whole Meeting

November 8, 2021 6:15 pm

This is a public notice under Section 26 of the Community Charter that Bowen Island Municipality intends to dispose of lands that are not being made available to the public for acquisition.

Lot B is owned by the Municipality. It’s a property north of Bowen Island Trunk Road and east of 1011 Miller Road. The legal description is PID: 026-484-501, LOT B DISTRICT LOT 490 GROUP 1 NEW WESTMINSTER DISTRICT PLAN BCP20428 (“Lot B”).

Regular Council Meeting

Request for volunteer Library Board members Bowen Island Municipality and Bowen Island Public Library are seeking applications from Bowen Island residents interested in joining the Bowen Island Public Library Board. We are looking for applications from members of the community with diverse lived experience, backgrounds, and skills who are committed to the ideals of open and equitable access to information through public library service.

Key duties of the Library Board are:

• • • • •

November 15, 2021 11:00 am Environment and Climate Action

Setting the strategic direction and goals of the library.

Determining policy and rules for managing the provision of public library services and for regulating the use of the library facilities and programs by the public.

Appointing and reviewing performance of the Chief Librarian.

Preparing an annual operating budget to present to Council.

Reviewing the annual operating budget and monitoring revenue and expenditures through the year.

Advisory Committee Meeting

The Board meets 10 times per year on the third Thursday of the month.

All meetings are online via Zoom and

Interested individuals are asked to submit a one-page summary of their background, skills and expertise relative to the duties and responsibilities of the position.

open to the public, unless noted otherwise.

Further questions can be emailed to info@bowenlibrary.ca.

Help stop COVID-19:

Get vaccinated - everyone over 12 is eligible

The Municipality intends to exchange a portion of land from Lot B (shown in blue hatch) for an equivalent portion of land from 1011 Miller Road (shown in blue shading), to be dedicated as highway for the purposes of constructing the Multi-Use Path next to Bowen Island Trunk Road.

You can request to inspect a copy of the Land Exchange Agreement at Municipal Hall, 981 Artisan Lane, Bowen Island, during our hours of operation of Monday to Friday, 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM (closed on statutory holidays).

Questions? Please contact Sophie Idsinga, Deputy Corporate Officer at 604-947-4255 ext 246 or sidsinga@bimbc.ca

Committees needing members Stay home if you’re sick

Wear a mask in indoor public spaces

BIM Council is looking for members for several advisory committees.

Committees meet several times a year and have an advisory function to Council.

Here are some of the committees looking for members: Advisory Design Panel, Advisory Planning Committee, Heritage Committee and the Transportation Advisory Committee.

For more information: www.bowenislandmunicipality.ca/committees

Contact Bowen Island Municipality PAID ADVERTISEMENT November 4, 2021

Phone: Fax: Email: Website:

604-947-4255 604-947-0193 bim@bimbc.ca

Bowen Island Municipal Hall 981 Artisan Lane Bowen Island, BC V0N 1G2

www.bowenislandmunicipality.ca

Hours: 8:30 am - 4:30 pm Monday to Friday Closed statutory holidays

Interested applicants are asked to respond in writing, via email, fax or regular mail, with the requested information by Friday, November 26th, 2021 at 4:00PM: Sophie Idsinga, Deputy Corporate Officer Bowen Island Municipality 981 Artisan Lane Bowen Island, BC V0N 1G2 FAX: 604-947-0193 EMAIL: sidsinga@bimbc.ca

We’re hiring: Casual Youth Worker Bowen Island Community Recreation is seeking Casual Youth Workers. This is an exciting part-time position supporting the Youth Services Coordinator in the running of the Bowen Youth Centre, and community programming for Bowen Island youth. The Youth Worker primarily responds to the needs and interests of young people who attend Youth Centre programs by providing a variety of recreational activities for youth.

The ideal candidate will have a minimum of one year experience working with youth in a recreational/drop-in setting, be somewhat familiar with adolescent developmental needs and stages, and have strong communication skills. Hours may vary between 3-10+ hours per week, covering Friday and/or Saturday night drop-in and occasional community events or special programming.

www.bowenislandmunicipality.ca/jobs

Find us on Facebook Bowen Island Municipality

Subscribe to our mailing list bowenislandmunicipality.ca/subscribe

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Mulling over housing solutions for Bowen HIGHLIGHTS FROM LAST MONTH’S MUNICIPAL COMMITTE OF THE WHOLE

BRONWYN BEAIRSTO

Editor

The housing crunch on Bowen is dire.

Bowen Island Municipality’s 2020 housing needs assessment found that 84% of residents cannot afford to buy a new single-family home and single-family homes are 90% of the housing stock.

There is a municipal committee dedicated to the housing issue – the Housing Advisory Committee. The HAC brought forward a suite of “high level” general recommendations to mayor and councillors Oct. 15 in a joint committee of the whole meeting. The recommendations – listed in general order of difficulty with easiest at the top – are as follows. (Note that council gave directions to a municipal committee to further research topics, these aren’t policy shifts.)

Setting community-wide housing targets: “All sorts of different people need different kinds of housing, that we’re struggling to provide at the moment,” explained HAC chair Robyn Fenton – this isn’t just about affordable housing, but diverse housing too.

Coun. Maureen Nicholson noted that given the current island population, the 900-odd new homes that could be built under already passed rezonings (some of those developments many years old), and if the capacity of Bowen is about 7,000 people, that leaves room for a further 1,000 people or 400 homes. (These are very general estimates.)

Councillors agreed to the committee pursuing a preliminary review of existing data (like the housing needs assessment and the BIRCH survey a couple of years ago).

Encouraging more secondary suites: The HAC recommended looking at lowering the lot size requirement for detached secondary suites and relaxing parking requirements; considering a survey to find suites not being rented and ask why they’re not being rented; and looking at neighbourhoods where permitting more than one suite could be suitable.

“We have heard anecdotal feedback that there are some existing buildings out there that are unused,” said Fenton. “Those existing buildings that are there, that’s really low hanging fruit.”

Councillors agreed for the committee to

research potential of reducing how big a lot must be before allowing a detached secondary suite.

Seeking methods to build the housing reserve fund: This includes the provincial MRDT, which can be applied to short-term rentals (but this tax hasn’t been applied on Bowen because not enough rental owners have agreed to the tax; it was also proposed during the early months of the pandemic.)

Council agreed for the committee to explore this further with the support of CFO Sheila McCutcheon.

Cluster and duplex zoning: The idea would be to look at where there could be zoning for smaller attached homes on existing lots or clusters of smaller lots rather than large lots and how such a zone would work. (Across the island, there are different kinds of zones, like Rural Residential 1 or Comprehensive Development or Rural Commercial 2.) Some other communities (like Gibsons and Maple Ridge) have created this new kind of zoning for “gentle density” – allowing more density than single-family homes in a neighbourhood – said Fenton.

In the way that council has recently put out a request for expressions of interest for housing projects on a parcel of the Community Lands, BIM could invite private landowners to apply for rezonings, suggested Fenton.

Council agreed for the committee to research the creation of such zoning.

Bring in changes to Land Use Bylaw to incentivize building desired housing, like rental suites: This suggestion from the HAC involves using the LUB to make it more desirable for builders to include secondary suites in new builds – and reviewing the bylaw to see where it could be impeding certain needed housing getting built.

Fenton acknowledged that this would be a bigger project but the suggestion is more of high level concept of how council can use the LUB as a tool, indicated Fenton.

“With the cost of building and everything on Bowen, it’s not that easy to get people to come over here and build stuff,” said Mayor Gary Ander. “We have to find a way to incentivize.”

Coun. Alison Morse noted that incentivizing isn’t money changing hands but density bonusing and the like.

Council agreed to have the committee research incentivization of land use.

Alternative modes of land tenure: This

We need help to light UP the cove for Christmas This year we are very short on elf power and with the rains expected we foresee difficulties installing lights & displays in the cove for December. We need some handy Elves who have time to help us set up & strike. We will start next week ~ only IF we get some volunteers.

Interested in helping to LIGHT UP the COVE Please contact: lightupbowen@gmail.com or text 778-957-0947 ~ THIS IS an ALL VOLUNTEER EVENT

could be supporting private land owners in rezoning to accommodate tiny house villages or trailer. “So one owner owns the property, puts in the servicing and pads and then people bring in either manufactured homes, tiny houses, whatever,” explains Fenton.

“It’s simply a different mode of land tenure,” said Fenton. “It can be just as nice and just as friendly and community based as any other thing.”

Another element to this recommendation is considering giving control of some of the Community Lands to a community land trust “that would be based in the community have board members who are from the community, and they would be then making those long-term decisions about what would go in there and what would be built,” said Fenton. “That’s again, a different form of land tenure.”

Council agreed for the committee to “research the potential of pilot projects through calls for expressions of interest; provide more information to Council about Community Lands Trust.”

Encourage attached and multi-family housing forms – “gentle density” in established neighbourhoods: (Very similar ideas and reactions as cluster and duplex zoning.)

Proactive rezoning – pre-zoning land to encourage diverse housing, taking away some of the risk for developers: An example given is the Bellringer-Purdy housing development across from the museum, where the Community Lands parcel was already zoned for housing when the developers bought it.

This would be a huge project noted councillors, so “suggest that next elected Council undertake a review of the Official Community Plan to identify appropriate lands for diverse housing types.”

Councillors also mentioned that they’ll be going into strategic planning soon, so these housing priorities could be a part of that.

Also, next year is an election year, so some of the more substantive changes would be up to the next council.

The HAC has been inviting local developers to speak with the committee. In September, Rob Purdy, of the D.K. Harris development across from the museum, spoke with the committee. See coverage on p. 6.

ELFs

WANTED No Experience

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POINTED EARS & CURLY TOES NOT

Required

Thursday, November 4, 2021 • A3

GARDEN CLUB PRESENTS

Collecting garden water CATHRYN ROBERTSON

Bowen Island Garden Club

Bowen Island Garden Club continues its “Home Grown” Zoom series: Water in your Garden presentation: Nov. 15, 7 p.m.

Last month we explored “Bugs in our Garden” with Will Husby, this month we are exploring water collection and conservation of water use in our gardens.

In the dry summer drought do you ever think about all the rain that falls on Bowen most of the year? Have you ever considered water collection and water conservation?

Doug Elliott, hosts our exploration and Cathy Robertson films water collection and storage by six Bowen gardeners.

These gardners collect and store rainwater or well water in the winter months to supply water to their garden in the summer. We also visit the Grafton Agricultural Commons, which uses regenerative agriculture to minimize watering.

Garden Club members Virginia Penny, Peggy Blackwood, David and Aubin van Berckel, David and Ainslie Manson, Doug Elliott, and the Vyner family showcase their methods of collecting rain water and distribution of water in their gardens: Peggy Blackwood lives in Evergreen, where the municipality required the developer to build incorporating rainwater collection for gardens, drinking and a sprinkling system.

Aubin and David on Cates Hill have created a garden water storage system because their well runs dry in summer.

Doug shows us smaller scale watering collection with barrels and reusing water.

David M. has a long-established system of water collection and distribution as they garden by the sea in Hood Point.

Phil Gregory of the Commons shows us the plentiful harvest obtained by developing the soil using a layering technique. These beds did not need watering in our drought!

The Vyner family, perched high on a cliff in Queen Charlotte Heights have just begun their garden this year, and have installed a watering system.

After the 20-minute video there will be a brief Q and A with the owners. All of this from the comfort of your own home via the magic of ZOOM! Open to members of the Garden Club. Membership info at bowenislandgardenclub.ca.

A4 • Thursday, November 4, 2021

bowenislandundercurrent.com

VIEWPOINTS LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

Climate action up to you & me

DEAR EDITOR: Few on Bowen need to be told that the world around us is changing quite fast , accelerating.

I am wondering how many are aware how much the ocean water table has risen.

There is a telltale sign quite visible from the ferry or even more so, when you walk down the festival meadow toward the marina in Snug Cove.

You see the sun-bleached trunk of a needleless, barkless, lifeless tall hemlock.

This is not a leftover ghost of last weekend’s Halloween!

Its truncated roots hang in mid air without purpose, holding onto nothing anymore. Their horizontal stiffness keeps the trunk upright until they brake away, decayed, and this once proud shoreline sentinel comes crashing to it’s grave.

In the early seventies this healthy hemlock was shining bright in fresh greens with lots of tiny cones and the shoreline was a distance away. Hemlocks have shallow roots and the tree grew tall over almost one hundred years, feeling safe in its future.

And then the oceans started to rise… even in well hidden Snug Cove and the increasing saltwater began to destroy its diet.

Years before this happened, an apple seed sprouted near its trunk. As that little tree grew, entwining its roots with the hemlock’s, it must have sensed the danger and made a huge effort to send its food supply lines eventually about ten plus meters away into the higher lying alder forest.

Despite having its roots splashed by high tidal salt water, that little apple tree still sprouts healthy green leaves, though I have never seen blossoms, nor fruit on it.

This week the world discusses how to avert the catastrophic “point of no return” triggered by humankind. Let us be warned

by Nature, and at the same time be offered a glimpse of her resilience, if we give her a chance. Its our choice: IT IS UP TO YOU AND ME. HC Behm

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

EDITORIAL

Stand up to the province: Mt Gardner Time to go The following letter was addressed to Bowen Island Municipality’s mayor and council and shared with the Undercurrent.

I was quite frankly appalled and flabbergasted to read the September 20, 2021 letter from Robert van der Zalm re. a decision on what is planned for the Mount Gardner Recreation Site. I am asking you, as our elected Council, to re-emphasize in a letter to the Minister of Forests, Land, Natural Resource Operations and Rural Development, that Bowen Island does not want motorized access on Mount Gardner.

The Council has already sent a letter, asking the Province to prohibit motorized access on Mount Gardner. Please send one again and ask why your directions/recommendations to the Province are being totally ignored. I know the letter of September 20, 2021 was somewhat confusing and that Council seemed to be confused about it when you discussed at Council. What is not confusing

are the two final paragraphs: Restricting all motorized use in the recreation site has a high risk of creating conflict and discord amongst historical users, with a low likelihood of success of preventing motorized use in the area.

Restricting motorized use would require a level of enforcement that is not currently available. Without an effective enforcement plan, making regulatory change on its own is not justifiable.

Two points: 1) “Making regulatory change” – since when was there a regulation permitting motorized access; there has never been one.

2) Avoiding regulating an activity because of level of enforcement would mean that most of our Bowen bylaws would be pointless.

In addition, if the Province wishes to avoid “creating conflict and discord amongst historical users” – which have in my 55

years plus experience of hiking Mount Gardner trails – been confined to hikers and more recently some mountain bikers – only in last ten years have motorized vehicles raised their ugly heads on Mt. Gardner. How do they get to call themselves “historical users.” There will be much conflict and discord if this poorly conceived response to community opposition is ignored.

As for enforcement, I have no doubt that there would be many volunteers stepping forward to report to the municipality and/ or to the Province when the “no motorized access” is not being respected. At the moment, the trail riders group happily posts their videos of Mount Gardner motorized trail riding. How difficult would it be to follow up when these are posted and remind the offenders that this is not allowed?

Thank you for standing up to the Province on this issue.

Nerys Poole

THE WRITE STUFF. The Undercurrent encourages reader participation in your community newspaper. You must include your full name and a daytime phone number (for verification only). The editor reserves the right to edit for clarity, legality, brevity and taste. Please limit to under 500 words. To submit a letter to the editor mail it to PO Box 130, Bowen Island, BC V0N 1G0 or email editor@bowenislandundercurrent.com.

All Advertising and news copy content are copyright of the Undercurrent Newspaper. All editorial content submitted to the Undercurrent becomes the property of the publication.

The Undercurrent is not responsible for unsolicited manuscripts, art work and photographs.

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Bowen Island Undercurrent Subscription Rates: Mailed 1 year subscription on Bowen Island: $55, including GST. Within Canada: $85 including GST Newsstand (Single Copy) $1.50 per copy, including GST

ISSN 7819-5040

Growing up, because we lived so far away from our extended family, visiting family was always a BIG DEAL. And it was always so sad when we left. Mom would try to comfort us by saying it’s better we’re sad to leave them than being glad we’re leaving them.

Next week, it’s time for me to go. The Nov. 11 edition of the Undercurrent will be my last and it’s a bittersweet goodbye for me. I’m sad to leave Bowen and my life here and grateful the past three years happened. I’m not going far – I’m staying in the newspaper business, but I’ll be on the Sunshine Coast.

I know publisher Peter is busy finding my replacement, and I’m so excited to see the future of the Undercurrent and this community. Nov. 15 I’ll be signing up for a subscription.

Bronwyn Beairsto, editor

National NewsMedia Council.

EDITOR Bronwyn Beairsto editor@bowenisland undercurrent.com

ADVERTISING Tracey Wait ads@bowenisland undercurrent.com

CARTOONIST Ron Woodall

PUBLISHER Peter Kvarnstrom publisher@bowenisland undercurrent.com 2011 CCNA

CANADIAN COMMUNITY NEWSPAPER AWARD 2011

SPECIAL THANK-YOU Audrey Grescoe

The Undercurrent is a member of the National NewsMedia Council of Canada, which is an independent organization established to deal with acceptable journalistic practices and ethical behaviour. If you have concerns about editorial content, please email editor@bowenislandundercurrent. com or call 604-947-2442.

If you are not satisfied with the response and wish to file a formal complaint, visit the website at mediacouncil.ca or call toll-free 1-844-877-1163 for additional information.

bowenislandundercurrent.com

Thursday, November 4, 2021 • A5

BOWEN NATURE CLUB

The ground beneath your feet is speaking

DEPARTS SUN to THURS FRI & SA. ed SNUG COVE 11:15PM ns suspend5AM u ter r HORSESHOE BAY 12:30AM ommu c d n a t h g i S Afternoon Commuter Runs Late n

Mon - Fri Horseshoe Bay - Snug Cove

DIG INTO THE MAGIC OF MYCELIUM NETWORKS ACROSS THE ISLAND

We’re still here for essential services such as ambulance transport and we’re here for your private charter needs. Please feel free to call us with your questions as we chart these waters together.

JEN RITCHIE

Proudly Celebrating 42 Years of Trusted Transport for Bowen Island & Howe Sound

Bowen Nature Club

In these dark wet autumn days, foragers delight in the plethora of mushrooms popping up all over the island.

However, what we often call “mushrooms” are merely the fruiting body of a vast and ever-present filamentous fungi network underground, called mycelium.

It’s been a long time since I first saw Avatar, but any time mycelium comes up in conversation, I think back to that avant-garde movie. For most of us, it was the first time we’d ever heard of mycelium, and it was mind-blowing to consider that the Hometree and its “biological neural network” could be real.

In fact, mycelium is the most common species on earth.

There are nearly 500 km of fungi under each footstep you take. One teaspoon of forest or rich garden soil contains several miles of fungal filaments.

What gets really fascinating is how trees and mycelium work together. They feed each other and can send “messages” back and forth. Of course, we assume that these “messages” are evolutionary pressured automatic responses to environmental stimuli, and not actual conscious language.

The concept of Avatar’s Hometree is called a hub tree or mother tree by modern scientists. They are the biggest and oldest trees, with deep roots. The finest tips of their roots connect to the fungal filaments in a communications network. Mother trees can recognize their seedlings, and can even form “communities” with neighboring trees of different species. For example, cedar and maple are on one network, hemlock and Douglas fir on another.

Trees share nutrients like carbon and water with each other through the mycelium network. In Bella Bella, B.C., scientists were able to track the carbon exchange in groups of trees that grew near salmon streams. Bears would eat fish on the shore, then the remains would be left to rot beneath the trees. The nitrogen in salmon has a very distinctive chemical marker, which the scientists were able to track as it passed from tree to tree in the network.

Whenever a tree in the network is under distress, from drought or disease or attack, it sends out chemical and elec-

Telephone: 604-947-2243 Cellular: 604-250-2630 Tug & Barge services Special Event Cruises PRIVATE CHARTERS AVAILABLE ANYTIME UNDERCURRENT FILE PHOTO

Mycelium networks have captured pop-culture imagination in recent years, from James Cameron’s Avatar to Star Trek: Discovery. trical signals. The mother tree detects these signals through the mycelium network, and returns help in the form of water and nutrients.

Why would the fungal networks participate in the system? They definitely benefit from the arrangement. In fact, it resembles a tidy business exchange. The fungi consume 30 percent of the sugar released by the tree roots. As they process the sugar, they produce minerals like nitrogen and phosphorus, and the tree absorbs these into their own roots.

Whenever the biggest and oldest trees are cut down, the younger trees in their network can suffer greatly. Survival rates plummet, as the younger tries struggle to provide for each other, with their substantially less extensive root system. You might imagine that trees compete with each other for resources, but actually, trees live longer and reproduce more in a healthy stable forest with big hub trees as their anchors.

For more about mycelium networks and other cool mushrooms, check out Fantastic Fungi on Netflix, or read the classic book, The Hidden Life of Trees: What They Feel, How They Communicate.

Bowen Nature Club Members can learn about native mushrooms in person this Sunday, with a Members Only Mushroom Walk. Learn to identify and appreciate mushrooms with Dr. John Field (note: not a foraging event).

Sunday, Nov. 7, 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Free but requires preregistration. To register, email bowennatureclub@gmail.com.

Do you have a holiday event coming up? Let us know for our holiday guide! Please send to editor@bowenislandundercurrent. com by Nov. 10.

In memory of our loved ones who served or lost their lives to war.

email: cormorantmarine@telus.net web: cormorantwatertaxi.com

604-947-2243

Since 1978

Remembrance Day Ceremony on Bowen Island Thursday November 11, 2021 The Bowen Island Royal Canadian Legion will host the island’s Remembrance Day Ceremony at the Cenotaph in Snug Cove. All are welcome to attend with respect to Provincial Health protocols for gathering. The service will commence after the 10:50 ferry departs the cove.

If you’ll be placing a wreath this year please contact the Legion to add your name to the wreath procession list.

Please email Yvonne ymuzak@telus.net or Maureen rcl150manager@gmail.com Wreathes for delivery to the Cenotaph are available for order from the Bowen Island Flower Shop.

Place your order before November 4th by email to bowenislandflowershop@shaw.ca Please note, the legion will not be available for wreath drop off.

Once again the Legion will offer its traditional Remembrance Day lunch after the service and will be open from 11:30 to 4 pm. Double vaccination, id and mask required. This year’s menu will not include a pot lu uck due to o he ealth pro oto ocols s.

We hope to see as many islanders as possible!

To submit a name, photo or story for the Undercurrent Remembrance Day edition:: please email Bronwyn om editor@bowenislandundercurrent.co

by Friday Nov 5, 5pm

Remembrance Day Edition Thursday November 11

@bowenislandundercurrent.com

A6 • Thursday, November 4, 2021

bowenislandundercurrent.com

BIM housing committee’s chats with developers series: Rob Purdy HOUSING ADVISORY COMMITTEE: RENTAL HOUSING DEVELOPER TALKS HOUSING DIVERSITY ON BOWEN BRONWYN BEAIRSTO

Editor@bowenislandundercurrent.com

Bowen Island Municipality’s Housing Advisory Committee has recently started inviting local developers for informal discussions about building housing on Bowen Island.

Their first guest was Rob Purdy, one of the faces behind the D.K. Harris Properties LTD rental housing development across from the museum, which is nearing completion. He spoke to the committee on Sept. 9.

Purdy describes himself as a finance person, and he’s no stranger to the housing game – he works in housing in Vancouver and has his own company that finances

non-market and rental housing in B.C. and beyond.

The housing project on Bowen, building a project as the owner, is Purdy’s first and maybe only such endeavour, he said. “It came out of a need in our community and the need for rental housing,” he said, “and I was aware of funding that was available to do it.”

The development has seen significantly more interest than they have units, said Purdy and close to 100 per cent of their list is what they’d call locals.

The committee provided Purdy a host of questions that prompted a train of thought discussion.

What are your thoughts on housing on Bowen?

Bowen needs more housing diversity, said Purdy, and it’s an issue everywhere. It’s no secret Bowen has lots of single

PUBLIC NOTICE OF INTENT

To borrow funds to finance Tunstall Bay water reservoir tank, subject to petition against This is a public notice under sections 213 and 217 of the Community Charter.

Bowen Island Municipality intends to install a new treated water reservoir tank to service the users of the Tunstall Bay Water System.

This tank will make the water system more resilient by increasing the water supply buffer and providing enough storage to support flows needed for fire protection.

We intend to borrow $655,530 from the Municipal Finance Authority with a 5-year maximum repayment term to fund this capital improvement. The loan would be re-paid in full by means of a local service tax. If your property is within the local service area (outlined in blue), you will be subject to a local service tax of approximately $950 per year, for the next five years (2022-2026).

Council may proceed with this service unless more than half of the landowners representing at least 50% of the assessed value of the land and improvements (buildings) that would be subject to the local service tax, petition against the service by December 16, 2021 (30 days after notice has been given).

You can get more information about Loan Authorization (Tunstall Bay Water Reservoir Tank) Bylaw No. 555, 2021, the financing plan and the treated water reservoir tank on the Municipal website www.bowenislandmunicipality.ca, or at Municipal Hall, 981 Artisan Lane, Bowen Island.

If you own property within the local service area and you are IN FAVOUR of the financing plan for this project, no action is necessary.

If you are NOT IN FAVOUR, you may petition against this financing plan: 1. Confirm that your property is within the local service area 2. Complete a Petition Against Response Form (available on the Municipal website) 3. Submit the form to the Corporate Officer by 4:00 pm on December 16, 2021 • In person or by mail to Municipal Hall, 981 Artisan Lane, Bowen Island, BC V0N1G2 • By e-mail to bim@bimbc.ca • By fax to 604-947-0193 This notice has been mailed directly to all properties in the Tunstall Bay local service area, and publicly posted as of November 4, 2021.

Questions? Please contact the Corporate Officer at 604-947-4255 or bim@bimbc.ca.

family homes, but lacks in diversity for economic circumstances as well as life stages (from young singles or couples, to young families, to maturing families, to downsizing).

“We don’t have much housing that allows for the transition between those different phases and different living circumstances.”

The fastest way to get diversity is to use what already exists on-island, said Purdy. That is taking advantage of the secondary buildings, little cabins, and other liveable units that aren’t necessarily permitted under current regulations.

“There’s creative uses for what’s already built,” he said. “Just open that up to existing property owners to allow different uses.”

Opening up those units can also help with affordability for homebuyers, reasoned Purdy, by providing an income stream for property owners. “You can help deal with the crazy home prices …which is something that, at a municipal level, we can’t do a whole lot about. It’s a market thing – and it’s a government thing, but at different levels.”

Later in the meeting, Purdy noted that no matter what you’re building, it’s expensive to build on Bowen – for the rental project, he said construction costs are at least 25 to 30 per cent over what they are in the city. Material and labour are expensive What’s hindering these properties joining the market?

The requirement that properties with secondary detached dwellings be at least 0.9 of an acre in size Purdy said “feels somewhat arbitrary.” “There’s a lot of properties between half an acre and an acre that that could easily fit a coach house or a smaller dwelling.”

Then there’s water and sewage outside of the municipal water systems, Purdy also pointed to as a problem.

“Under the drinking water protection act, as soon as you make a second connection on your well, you’re now water system,” he said. “I think that scares a lot of people away.

Purdy said he’s gone through that and it was about $50,000.

“It’s a bit of a gotcha in the process that will probably be difficult for those homeowners to navigate.”

When it comes to sewage, many homes were built with a sceptic field designed for one house, which could be a snag if adding a secondary dwelling.

Though the water and sewage issues are provincially regulated, they’re considerations to keep in mind, said Purdy, and it would be helpful if that threshold were higher.

Given the island’s limited resources, it’s important to build what’s needed on Bowen, said Purdy. “I do believe that there’s basically unlimited demand for housing over here, whatever you build will just continue to get filled,” he said.

He doesn’t think building more and more will help – Bowen’ is far too small to influence the housing market or rental prices. “We could just fill up the island with more people and stretch resources without actually meeting a need that we have in the community.”

The process for building the rental housing building was really good, said Purdy. “More of that, for others, would be great.”

Having the land pre-zoned for housing offered time and certainty, said Purdy. The government financing (not a grant) needed certainty that the developers would be allowed to build what they wanted to build on that lot. There were also no carrying costs – “we bought the site on a Friday, and we started building on Monday.”

See the entire meeting on BIM’s YouTube channel.

On Oct. 8, Mark Shieh, Tomo Real Estate spoke to the HAC. It is available on YouTube and the Undercurrent will include coverage when space allows.

Editor’s note: I’m sorry this story is so belated. Sometimes I’m crunched for space and time. I am catching up on stories ahead of my departure. Thank you for reading!

NERP Tip An oft forgotten source of water in an emergency situation is typically sitting lonely and unappreciated in the far reaches of your residence – we’re talking about the hot water tank!

bowenislandundercurrent.com

Thursday, November 4, 2021 • A7

UNDERCURRENT PHOTO

Connie Wright is selling her shop but isn’t going far – she’s going to be helping out Squirrel’s Caro Johnson as the relatively new shopkeeper expands her business.

Squirrel to take over Connie Wright’s shop CONTINUED FROM P. 1

“And I said no. Why? I’m a horse trainer,” recounts Caro.

“You could do your own thing. And you could do some philanthropic give back stuff,” Petersen told Caro.

Caro still wasn’t going to buy the business, but then she made a stop at Pharmasave in Caulfeild. A little metal sign there read “I’m already disturbed. Please come in.”

“So I rang up my husband and said, We’re buying the store.”

“What made you change your mind?” asked her husband.

“I spent $7.99 on the door sign,” answered Caro.

When Squirrel started, Caro and Connie barely knew one another but they’ve become fast friends. A doorway inside the building connects the two stores, and the door is often open. Connie has helped guide the rookie retailer through her early years of the shop and now, Caro is buying Connie’s business.

“The idea of the space is so exciting. But

the idea of doing it and filling what Connie’s done is just about impossible,” says Caro.

Squirrel will open sometime in the early new year with its newly renovated space.

Squirrel will continue carrying some of Connie’s clothing lines. “I’ve always specialized in only natural fibres,” explains Connie.

“I have people from Vancouver coming here because there are no stores in Vancouver that specialize in that anymore.”

Having spent so much time doing so many crafty things on Bowen, Connie has developed a large local clientele. “Which I will miss like crazy, but I have promised to help [Caro].”

Connie will be back in the store in July and August one day a week and will do some help with ordering clothing.

The outgoing store owner also gives a plug for supporting and buying local – “we have unique, special stores here that should be supported,” she says. “I’m hoping that more people will shop locally. It just helps the community tremendously.”

Get our newsy newsletter emailed to you every Sunday Sign up to keep up with Bowen Island news and events – the things you may have missed and the things not to miss!

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PREPARE FOR A CHALLENGE AND GET INTO THE MUD - TO GET KIDS OUT OF THE MUD! Fundraising Goal: A fundraiser to raise $400K in support of Student Bursaries and our new community Field House Compete: A 2 km obstacle race competition for ages 11 to 111. Gather a team of 2-4 players and pick a theme!

Bid: Online and silent auctions PRIZE DRAW: Every individual registered in the Mudder Race will have a chance to win a (4) night Mayan Palace Mexico trip.

When: Saturday, November 20th | 1:30pm - 4:30pm REGISTER AT: islandpacific.org Island Pacific School on Bowen Island, is a middle school and a not for profit organization. All donations over $25 qualify for a tax receipt.

SPONSORED BY

Low Hanging Fruit wants to : Grow Community Grow Local Food Resilience & Contribute to a flourishing, healthy and diverse Nexwlélexm We’ve wrapped up our inaugural season of community fruit picking and need your help to figure out where to put our energy as we look ahead to the 2022 season.

If you have fruit or nut trees on your property, you can help us by filling out this survey: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/LowHangingFruit AND if you are interested in working with Low Hanging Fruit, please connect with Bowen Island Food Resilience by emailing: bowenfoodresilience@gmail.com

For more information, go to bowenfoodresilience.ca/lowhangingfruit

A8 • Thursday, November 4, 2021

bowenislandundercurrent.com

Take care: four unexpected sources of mental health distress

By Dr. Cameron Anderson, Attending Psychiatrist and Medical Manager, Segal 7 general psychiatry inpatient unit, VGH

Sponsored Content If you find yourself struggling, reflect on where these feelings are coming from to help your mental wellbeing.

Photo: Getty Images

Many individuals struggle with their mental health — and while the COVID-19 pandemic has increased mental distress, many long-standing and sometimes surprising causes remain the same.

This is why it’s remarkable to see people doing their best despite this life-altering event. It’s an achievement in and of itself and it’s OK if you’re not feeling as much like yourself as you’re used to.

Just remember — you’re important. You matter. It’s OK to take care of yourself.

Take a walk. Take a break. Take a moment.

And if you find yourself struggling, reflect on where these feelings are coming from.

There are several unexpected sources of mental distress that when addressed can help your mental wellbeing.

1. SOCIAL MEDIA AND NEWS INTAKE COVID-19 and its related news are understandably the leading stories in news outlets and social media channels.

Its impact is felt by all to varying degrees, and there’s a strong desire to keep on top of the latest developments.

However, when this is the majority of information we take in on a daily basis, it can cause mental distress. As the perception of threat increases, so do our

bodily responses, including anxiety and Positive responses include: listening to worry. music, laughing or crying, taking a bath or showering, going out with a friend, Instead, Anxiety Canada recommends you doing creative activities, and many more. try and limit how often you intake news about the pandemic (or any major news 4. INJURIES AND CONCUSSIONS story) so that you can keep yourself The connection between concussions informed while still maintaining your and mental health is often overlooked. An mental health. Commit to only checking estimated 25 per cent of mild traumatic in a couple times per day, set times to brain injury patients develop a mental check in, disable news alerts, or rely health condition such as depression or on family and friends to provide major post-traumatic stress disorder within updates. three months of injury.

Concussions can be destructive, 2. LACK OF SLEEP affecting the ways your body functions: We’ve all heard it before — sleep is your thinking, your emotions, your sleep. important. It’s a tale backed by science, as You may feel confused, have trouble it allows your brain to focus on important remembering things, or generally feel body responses, form new pathways for sluggish and tired. Suddenly you can feel learning, remembering, and processing more emotional, sad, irritable, nervous or information, and rebuild your energy for anxious. And it can directly impact your the next day. sleep, leading you to either have too little, Lack of sleep is linked with a number too much, or none at all. of chronic diseases and conditions, Receiving a diagnosis and treatment plan including depression. This can become can greatly help patients recover. Seek a cycle as lack of sleep creates stress help if you suspect you are suffering from during the day, which in turn contributes this condition. Vancouver Coastal Health to further sleep troubles.

(VCH) has created a concussion guide for Try to commit to a consistent bedtime adults to help you get started. routine and minimize caffeine, watching TAKE CARE TV or using the computer before bed.

No one is perfect. We’re all facing our own challenges in our unique and nuanced 3. STRESS When you are stressed, your body ways during this global pandemic. Do responds as though you are in danger. what you can, and if you find yourself It makes hormones speed up your in need of a little more help, then try heart, you breathe faster and you can accessing some of the resources above. experience sporadic bursts of energy.

This has been a challenging time, and Some stress is normal, however if stress it’s essential not to neglect your mental happens too often or lasts too long, it can health. So please, take care. If you find yourself in need of additional support, cause health problems. visit vghfoundation.ca/take-care.

It’s important to have positive coping responses to stress at the ready, as some Content Provided By strategies are not as helpful as others BC Children’s Hospital Foundation, and some of our go-to supports — like The Kelty Patrick Dennehy Foundation, social connection and routine — have Lions Gate Hospital Foundation and been disrupted during the pandemic.

VGH & UBC Hospital Foundation

bowenislandundercurrent.com

COMMUNITY CALENDAR Audition Call - Carmina Bowena, Bowen’s new vocal consort, is auditioning for basses and altos. We rehearse on Monday evenings 5:30 - 7pm at Collins Hall. If interested please call Nicole at 778926-4286 or email to ntzharmonium@mac.com SKY members and those interested in joining SKY, may be interested in knowing we are walking together on Wednesday afternoons. For further information please contact 778-886-3600

OCT. 22  NOV. 9

At the Hearth Gallery: Standing on the Shoulders The purpose of the show is to share in the conversation of how and why we make art.

NOV. 2NOV 11

Bowen Remembers Bowen Island Museum & Archives Monday to Saturday, 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.

SUNDAY NOV. 7

Bowen Nature Club Mushroom Walk 10 am - 1 pm Free to annual members, requires

pre-registration. Register: bowennatureclub@ gmail.com. More info: bit. ly/3Gk9WOi

MONDAY NOV. 8

Regular council meeting 6:15 pm Zoom

WEDNESDAY NOV. 10

Hearth Talk: Ramblings of a Committed Traveller The Hearth Gallery 7 pm Kami Kanetsuka talks about her time in Kathmandu

group where you can rave (or rant!) about a book you’ve read, find your next great read, and meet other young book lovers.

We will meet in the Annex but could move outside depending on the group’s preference (and if weather permits). Questions? info@ bowenlibrary.ca

SATURDAY NOV 13

Bowen Island United Chuch drive-through fall supper Legion 4 pm until sold out Offering ham and scalloped potatoes, veggies and pumpkin tarts. Minimum donation of $15

MONDAY NOV. 15

Monsoon Madness Mudder IPS 1:30-4:30 pm Fundraiser for IPS’ new fieldhouse / outdoor campus: bit. ly/31mFkeV

NOV. 11  NOV. 28

Hidden Gems Hearth Gallery

Book Sale of fiction/ handicrafts/house and home books Bowen Library Annex 10 am-noon Water in your Garden Garden Club talk. 7 p.m.

Zoom. More info, p. 3

SATURDAY NOV 20

Bring Your Own Book Club Bowen Island Public Librar Noon-1 pm For Bowen Islanders 18-35 years old.

A welcoming drop-in

THURSDAY NOV 25

Shari Ulrich, Cindy Fairbank, Kirby Barber and Julia Graff concert Tir-na-nOg 7 pm Part of Shari Ulrich’s Trust Me series. Tickets on Eventbrite or Phoenix. Proof of vaccination and masks required

Patient of the Week PATCHES

Patches the cat is 14 and has lived on Bowen with his family for 13 years. Before that he lived with a homeless man in Horseshoe Bay. This man said he could no longer care for him and traded him (to a good home) for a sandwich. When he arrived, he was malnourished, dirty, and missing a lot of fur.

Therefore he was, lovingly, named Patches.

He is now healthy and happy and has grown back all of his fur. Recently all of his teeth were removed due to infection. Despite having no teeth, he is still very vocal and gets by just fine. His favourite pastimes include laying by the fire, exploring garages or sheds, and jumping up on the kitchen counter when everyone is asleep.

REGULAR HOURS Tuesday to Friday 9- 5 Saturday 9- 1 Closed Sunday and Monday

To schedule appointments, please call

604.947.9247

or email reception@bowenvet.com

Thursday, November 4, 2021 • A9

Get to know your neighbour

THIS WEEK MEET: JULIA MCCAIG

What year did you come to Bowen? 1997 How did you come to be here? We came over with friends who were contemplating a move (Jennifer and Michael Henderson) just to look around. I fell in love at first sight — Bowen reminded me of my roots in the south of England where I was born — the rural roads and smallness of the community.

Are you in the same house you originally lived in? No, we started out renting on Privateer Way in Bluewater, next to the Boddys, who were great neighbours! We then bought a house on David Road and when my ex and I split, my kids and I lived on Cowan Road, then on Jason Road (opposite to where I live now).

Where on Bowen do you live? In an old log home on Jason.

What’s your favour-

ite place on Bowen? The Killarney Lake/Cedar trail loop and the meadow, which has changed so dramatically because of the beavers, in the 24 years I’ve been here.

What’s something Bowen Islanders have in common?

Resilience and the ability to adapt. We need to live our lives based, to a certain extent, around a ferry schedule...which is constantly changing! I purchased the book store when I first moved here, and renamed it Black Dog Books. I found that the common thread in getting to know islanders through this business was a great sense and appreciation of closeness and community. People enjoyed welcoming us to the island and telling us about local lore.

What’s your favourite Bowen fact or story? I didn’t even know that black labs and crows were a thing on Bowen until I renamed

the book store and got to know the stories about them through the comic stories in “The High Tide”, a quirky print publication put together in a rather tongue in cheek manner by some long-time islanders!

What do you do for fun these days? My three-yearold grandson is the light of my life and next to him, my work at Island Pacific School is a great source of enjoyment. It’s a great little school, doing amazing things.

When you’re going around Killarney Lake, do you go right or left? Depends on where I start out...if I’m at the picnic tables, then left, but if I come at it from Killarney Lake trail, then right!

A10 • Thursday, November 4, 2021

bowenislandundercurrent.com

Your Community

MARKETPLACE bowenislandundercurrent.com

Call or email to place your ad, Monday through Friday 8:30am to 4:30pm

604-444-3000 • 604-653-7851 classifieds@van.net

HEALTH CARE ASSISTANT SPROTTSHAW.COM

SUDOKU

BC WIDE CLASSIFIEDS LEGAL/PUBLIC NOTICES

Hello Sailing Community We’re wrapping up our 2021-year with the BIYC Annual General Meeting, which will be held at Doc Morgan’s Downstairs. Bring proof of vaccination.

MOVING

2 Guys With A Truck Moving & Storage 604-628-7136

-!$&+$ ,$%(%!$ *#"+ .$)+-&-$,'

Tuesday, November 16, 2021 from 19:30 – 20:30 To participate by Zoom please RSVP to membershipbiyc@gmail.com Many have contributed to the vision of “building a community of sailors” and because of this we would like to extend an invitation for you to attend the BIYC AGM so we can share a review of the year’s activities and what the compass looks like as we prepare for the next leg of our journey.

With kind regards, Simon Fowler, Vice Commodore

ANSWERS

INDUSTRIAL/ COMMERCIAL INTEGRITY POST FRAME BUILDINGS since 2008.

Built with concrete posts.

Barns, shops, riding arenas, machine sheds and more. adam.s@integritybuilt.com 1-250-351-5374. www.integritybuilt.com

HEALTH & WELLNESS BOWEN ISLAND WELLNESS CENTRE 604-947-9755

at the entrance to Artisan Square Suite 597 7

FLU SHOTS FOR OUR PATIENTS

Book online at bowenislandwellnesscentre.ca

To advertise please call 604-947-2442 or email ads@bowenislandundercurrent.com

bowenislandundercurrent.com

Thursday, November 4, 2021 • A11

Legion, Ladies Auxiliary, Remembrance Art featured in Bowen Museum’s Remembrance Day exhibit CONTINUED FROM P. 1

Established in 1930, the Bowen Island Legion commemorates the service – past and present – of Canada’s veterans. The Cenotaph was built by members of the Legion in 1937 and serves today, as it did then, as a monument and public place to remember and reflect. The names of the five islanders killed during action in the First World War are commemorated on the Cenotaph: Lewen Tugwell, Charles Redmond, Cameron Smith, Miles Green and Norman Vickery.

The Ladies Auxiliary of the Royal Canadian

Legion branch #150, worked in tandem with the Legion to assist in the branch’s fundraising activities and efforts, and is also featured in the exhibit. The Auxiliary was very active during the Second World War fundraising with teas, banquets and socials which was funneled back into the community. The Auxiliary received its charter on June 7, 1922 and closed on June 12, 1988 leaving behind a legacy of support and giving. Part of the Ladies Auxiliary gallery is their type-written registrar from March 1980 to June 1988.

We are graced with the long standing generosity of Mike Shields and Ross Patterson

Window Blinds On Bowen 778-995-1902

I&I TOWING HAULING LTD

loans. Last year’s special edition, Mary Anne Smith’s donation, are on display this year with Mallory Smith’s personal effects from serving in the Korean War as a fighter pilot.

Another act of remembrance is through participation. The Remembrance Art, integrated through the show, was collectively created by Island Pacific School. Through art they reflect on peace and what it means to them. Their theme is the Poppy, which was adopted after the First World War as a symbol of remembrance and respect.

Additional artifacts to explore are the personal family effects from Frants Erik

Nielsen, on loan courtesy of Pernille and Tina Nielsen. Frants, who with his wife Alice lived on Bowen Island for 36 years, was part of the Danish Resistance movement and a prisoner of war in Denmark. Frants was recruited to the movement as a Boy Scout and eventually received training in weapons and explosives for sabotage. This and other stories are there to be discovered and explored.

The “Bowen Remembers” exhibit runs Nov. 2 through Nov. 11, Monday to Saturday, 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.. Come to remember, to honour and to be part of the community.

Vehicles • Construction Equipment Sea-Can Containers • Tiny Homes Bowen Island • Greater Vancouver Vancouver Island • Sunshine Coast

Licensed Electrical Contractor Michael Bingham • 604 947 1717 ianditowhaul@gmail.com

778.266.6465 www.bowenislandelectrical.com

Landscape Lighting Irrigation BOWEN ISLAND SPECIALISTS! QUALITY SERVICE GUARANTEED! Keep Calm and Call Econo

604.980.3333

991 West First Street, North Vancouver, BC www.economovingandstorage.com

Stories and photos from

NEW CONSTRUCTION RENOVATIONS

your community

RESTORATION ADDITIONS SECONDARY STRUCTURES

In print and online all the time

UNIQUE OUTDOOR SPACES SUB CONTRACT WORK

BUILT GREEN BC BUILDER

bowenislandundercurrrent.com

CONTACT US FOR A FREE QUOTATION WWW.WHITEHART.CA ADDRESS 302-566 ARTISAN LANE BOWEN ISLAND, BC PHONE 1 (778) 999-3434

Seascape Bruce Culver

Office: 604-947-9686

Cell: 604-329-3045

BOWEN ISLAND ROOFING ROOFING & REPAIRS

604-987-7663

Trade ticket certified #00012-RO-96

live the life you love To reserve a spot on this page, contact us at 604-947-2442 or ads@bowenislandundercurrent.com

A12 • Thursday, November 4, 2021

bowenislandundercurrent.com

Witches of the west side. (Keith Patterson photo)

Carving IRLY Pumpkins

PHOTOS COURTESY OF BCC

We are so fortunate to have Anna and the Irly Bird sharing their resources with our community of Bowen.

On Oct. 22 at Irly we hosted 20 families and their children, all socially distanced, with plated hot dogs while pumpkins were carved. Families were delighted to have a normal moment to do this well-loved activity.

The pumpkins looked awesome, the food was delicious and the goody bags they took home a welcome surprise – everyone had a blast!

THANK YOU IRLY for your generosity and support.

Ann Silberman, Bowen Children’s Centre

Places of Worship Welcome You BOWEN ISLAND UNITED CHURCH E BOWEN ISLAND UNITED CHURCH Sunday Worship 10:30 am v l Rev. Lorraine Ashdown M Lynn Williams - Minister of Music.

Helen Wallwork leads Sunday School.

FOOD

FOOD BANK DROP-OFF

ST. GERARD’S ROMAN CATHOLIC CHURCH 00 Sunday Mass at 9.30

Contact Angela Powell 604-947-2515

CATES HILL CHAPEL

A

6304

www.cateshillchapel.com 604-947-4260 (661 Carter Rd.)

00 am W Now offering worship services via Zoom.

A link available on website.

Pastor: Phil Adkins

SHIRAT HAYAM (Song of the Sea) BOWEN’S JEWISH COMMUNITY Shabbat Gatherings ~ Holidays Contact aryana.rayne@gmail.com

o

“Bruce Russell enjoying himself at the Tricks for Treat Tournament at the golf course on Saturday, Oct.30 –Soren Hammerberg

Ninja turtle Everett McGowan, 3, with his Aunt Jen! –Julia McCaig

“Abe got out of our cellar and was roaming the woods during Halloween, still no sign of him,” – Rob Wynen

Queen of Capilano Ferry Schedule October 12, 2021 to March 22, 2022

DEPART BOWEN ISLAND

DEPART HORSESHOE BAY

5:20 am except Sundays 5:50 am 6:20 am 6:50 am 8:00 am 7:30 am 8:35 am 9:05 am except Wednesdays 9:40 am 10:15 am 10:50 am 11:25 am 12:35 pm 12:00 pm 1:10 pm 2:20 pm 3:30 pm 2:55 pm 4:00 pm except Wednesdays 4:35 pm 5:10 pm 5:45 pm 6:15 pm 6:50 pm 7:25 pm except Saturdays 8:00 pm except Saturdays 9:00 pm 8:30 pm 9:30 pm 10:00 pm 10:30pm Note: Schedules subject to change without notice: Please check BCFERRIES.COM Schedule changes on statutory holidays